Project Gutenberg Etext of The Large Catechism, by Martin Luther

men would have joy and happiness from the same.
Let me now say in conclusion that this commandment demands not only
that every one live chastely in thought, word, and deed in his
condition, that is, especially in the estate of matrimony, but also
that every one love and esteem the spouse given him by God. For where
conjugal chastity is to be maintained, man and wife must by all means
live together in love and harmony, that one may cherish the other from
the heart and with entire fidelity. For that is one of the principal
points which enkindle love and desire of chastity, so that, where this
is found, chastity will follow as a matter of course without any
command. Therefore also St. Paul so diligently exhorts husband and wife
to love and honor one another. Here you have again a precious, yea,
many and great good works, of which you can joyfully boast, against all
ecclesiastical estates, chosen without God's Word and commandment.
The Seventh Commandment.
Thou shalt not steal.
After your person and spouse temporal property comes next. That also
God wishes to have protected, and He has commanded that no one shall
subtract from, or curtail, his neighbor's possessions. For to steal is
nothing else than to get possession of another's property wrongfully,
which briefly comprehends all kinds of advantage in all sorts of trade
to the disadvantage of our neighbor. Now, this is indeed quite a
wide-spread and common vice, but so little regarded and observed that
it exceeds all measure, so that if all who are thieves, and yet do not
wish to be called such, were to be hanged on gallows the world would
soon be devastated and there would be a lack both of executioners and
gallows. For, as we have just said, to steal is to signify not only to
empty our neighbor's coffer and pockets, but to be grasping in the
market, in all stores, booths, wine- and beer-cellars, workshops, and,
in short, wherever there is trading or taking and giving of money for
merchandise or labor.
As, for instance, to explain this somewhat grossly for the common
people, that it may be seen how godly we are: When a manservant or
maid-servant does not serve faithfully in the house, and does damage,
or allows it to be done when it could be prevented, or otherwise ruins
and neglects the goods entrusted to him, from indolence idleness, or
malice, to the spite and vexation of master and mistress, and in
whatever way this can be done purposely (for I do not speak of what
happens from oversight and against one's will), you can in a year
abscond thirty, forty florins, which if another had taken secretly or
carried away, he would be hanged with the rope. But here you [while
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